Chapter 12

Whilst the rest of the visit to Radiance was very interesting, including meeting the family of sub-Commander Loss, nothing else happened to cause us to activate our talents. We left on the Gloriana to go to Trevaglion for a short visit, mainly to bless the Colours of the 1307^th Defence Regiment, currently stationed on Coriola, but to whom Amanda had made a promise.

Trevaglion itself was a well-established world of the Empire, with a stable population of about one billion and wasn’t particularly famous for any specific products or interesting landmarks. That’s not to say it wasn’t quite lovely in places, just nothing overall marked it out as special.

Amanda’s visit though caused quite a sensation. No one there had dreamed that the Princess Royal would be making a visit to ‘their’ world. Hence our approach to the main station of the planet had been a riot of colour. What seemed like every ship in the system swirled in glowing colours around the Gloriana to welcome us.

“They seem excited,” I chuckled, as the tri-dee images showed the viewing areas of the station packed to capacity, with many in the crowd holding banners of welcome.

“They do,” Amanda nodded. “I suspect they thought the famous planets would get a visit first.”

“Probably,” I agreed.

“That said, a promise is a promise and I never break my word.”

“Where’s the ceremony to be held?” Haelee asked.

“Yet to be discussed, though I did suggest any place that needs a morale boost.”

“Good idea, though let’s see what they come up with,” Torric replied.

The visit to the station was hectic, with almost an edge of hysteria to the crowd, though they were held back by the local Guardians and prevented from mobbing us. Amanda still managed a walkabout, though was a little more careful about people attempting to reach out and touch her, not that they meant any harm, just the atmosphere surrounding her presence was a little fraught at times.

The local Guardian Senior Investigator did, however, permit several of the local children through his cordon to present Amanda with various tokens and ensured no one was injured in the crush. Still, I think everyone in authority in the station was relieved when Amanda finally made it to the rooms we were staying in.

“That was potentially dangerous for all,” Trusha stated as our group finally relaxed.

“Tell me about it,” Amanda sighed. “I had my senses going off constantly with danger signals.”

“Not the only one,” I nodded, as did the others.

“We ensured no one was injured,” the AI said. “Though the crowds exceeded our expectations.”

“Good. Let’s hope the planetary authorities take note and ensure things are a little calmer on the planet itself,” Amanda replied.

“Are the crowds dispersing?” I asked the AI.

“Yes, most were visitors so are now shuttling down to the planet.”

“Hope they are happy; I doubt many got a good look.”

“They can say they were here; all got a good view via the floating tri-dee screens.”

“That’s true,” I nodded. “Well, off to work I go,” I finished with a chuckle.

“Enjoy,” Amanda smiled as she went with Trusha to speak to the Station Commander and thank him for the efforts of his people to keep the crowds safe.

It was still pretty crowded in the rotunda, but I found a space and began sketching whilst Liono kept watch as well as doing her own form of crowd mood gathering. I had soon picked up a few watchers and all were more than willing to chat with me, mostly over the visit but also about Trevaglion itself.

“Seems a happy place,” I said to a young girl who was being sketched alongside her intended.

“It’s OK,” she grinned. “Gangs cause the occasional issues in the lower levels, but nothing serious and the Guardians clamp down hard if they go too far or become a nuisance.”

“Bit like Vreekoos,” I chuckled.

“I ‘spect so, not that I’d know,” she agreed.

“It’s not too different from here, bit more crowded though.”

“Was pretty crowded today,” she observed. “Was worth it though just to see the Princess.”

“She’s pretty special, yes,” I agreed.

“Yep, and we can say we were there. We even got a good view.”

“Good for you. Here you go,” I congratulated them and handed over the sketch.

“This place is Empire to the core,” Liono murmured when the couple moved away.

“Yep. Way too over enthusiastic, but that’s not a bad thing in general,” I nodded.

“Yes, that was worrying. But Amanda seemed safe enough, if a little tense at times.”

“Yes, no one meant her harm, but they did crowd her a bit.”

“Gang approaching,” she warned.

“I see them. Hopefully all they want is a sketch,” I chuckled.

“We’ll see.”

“If you draw us, we’ll consider that your visitor tax,” a young bravo blustered.

“I’d draw you anyway. No need to be aggressive,” I replied with a smile.

“You would?” he asked, a little confused.

“Kind of my thing,” I chuckled. “All together?”

“Yeah, we’d like that,” he replied as I began, using a small grav projector to act as my easel.

“Good place to live?” I asked as I swiftly got the outline down.

“Yeah, mostly. Custom guys are a bit greedy.”

“Their job,” I chuckled. “You won’t be going via official channels, I bet.”

“Well...”

“It’s OK, no need to incriminate yourself.”

“Thanks.”

“Figure you’ll eventually move up in the world anyway. Life’s too short to waste on butting heads with the authorities.”

“Yep. Glargo, our previous leader, got a Lamidosti title and now oversees the Customs Bureau,” he laughed, the rest of them joining in as well.

“No wonder they’re expensive to you,” I grinned.

“Yeah, he knows all the tricks.”

“Here’s the sketch,” I replied. “Take care.”

“Wow! Thanks. That’s great!” he enthused before they all melted away.

“Smuggling problem?” Liono asked.

“Small time, doubt it would interest ImpSec, but I will pass it on.”

“True, probably drugs like glow.”

“Probably. I suspect this Glargo is keeping it under control by using the Customs Bureau to monitor it.”

“Does sound likely. Though it always amazes me how the gangs of the Empire can move directly from a life of crime into the lower aristocracy.”

“Those that survive sometimes do. It’s not exactly a safe occupation for many. Others just go on to find normal work when the excitement runs out and they have to find some way to pay their debt of service.”

“Yes, a hard school, but good training for keeping criminals down when they do swap over,” she chuckled.

“That’s why it’s allowed.”

“So, nothing really going on in the station?” Amanda asked once we’d all assembled.

“Nope. A minor drugs problem that the Customs Bureau are on top of and ImpSec aware of, but nothing major,” I replied.

“Corporates and the entertainment sector are more or less honest,” Haelee added.

“More or less?” Amanda quizzed.

“Depends on whether you approve of their cut throat business practices. They aren’t quite breaking any laws though,” Verlig expanded.

“Ah, I see.”

“Medical centre was busy, but some of that was just crowd pressure and people getting checked out,” Torric reported.

“Security-wise no background pressures or unhappiness amongst the general public. All-in-all just an average Imperial world,” Sakla added.

“Good. I’ll pass the word down to Mum,” Amanda nodded. “Will you be heading down to the surface now, Sakla?”

“Yes, Serenissimé.”

“Very well, carry on.”

The surface visit had the same tumultuous crowds as the station visit, though there was far less pressure and a bit more space. Amanda did her thing and charmed everyone as we tried to spot any underlying issues worth reporting on, but came away empty handed. The 1307^th Regiment had their Colours blessed after a parade through the planetary capital and were cheered by the crowds watching. Amanda also visited several schools to the delight of the kids and established our standard schedule for when visiting various worlds within the Empire.

The room had been specifically built to be AI proof. The walls, floor and ceiling were devoid of nanotech. The furniture was both hand-made and expensive. Other than a few utilities, which were not connected to the central grid, there was no power or any controls in the room at all. It was just a blank space to the AIs, who, though they were aware of the space and who went in there, had no information on what, if anything, occurred in there.

“Our investigators have concluded their report on the Coriola fiasco,” Senior Techocrat Noll informed the others sitting around a large table.

“Their conclusions?” Lendmena Trask asked.

“That it was a mistake to involve ourselves with fanatical groups opposed to the Empire as they will always attract attention.”

“As many here pointed out when it was proposed,” Meritocrat Vollt noted.

“Indeed, though initially we had success,” Noll pointed out.

“True, but the profit we made was cancelled out by the loss of equipment and the closing down of the trade route,” Tallica Vrice pointed out.

“Yet none of it can be traced back to us. The investigators believe a trail may lead back to the manufactory in Vimeaon, though the Empire is somewhat hobbled as to what they can do there and again there is no path back to us from there either,” Noll reported.

“So, it just cost us time and money ... again?” Vrice noted.

“Yes, though the money is of no consequence as it was only a small outlay for a potentially vast profit ... assuming we can find a method of manufacture and distribution that the Empire cannot detect.”

“It all appears to founder when we use the lower orders,” Trask observed with a sneer.

“Indeed so, however moving distribution into the median or upper levels is fraught with risk due to the observation of the AIs.”

“Point,” Trask nodded with a sigh.

“We are also investigating the possibility that the Empire has changed its protocols for the medical seal procedure and may be laying a trap for those organisations now using it.”

“It’s of no matter. We have their money,” Vrice chuckled. “Still, we do need to find out what the new protocols are for when we begin production anew.”